SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 13: Justin Smoak #17 of the Seattle Mariners discards his bat after striking out with two runners on base to end the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field on April 13, 2014 in Seattle, Washington. (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) less

SEATTLE, WA - APRIL 13: Justin Smoak #17 of the Seattle Mariners discards his bat after striking out with two runners on base to end the fourth inning against the Oakland Athletics at Safeco Field on April 13, ... more

Photo: Otto Greule Jr, Getty Images

Image 6 of 10

SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 13: U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rob Jones throws out the first pitch as part of Military Opening Day before an inter-league baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park April 13, 2014 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) less

SAN DIEGO, CA - APRIL 13: U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rob Jones throws out the first pitch as part of Military Opening Day before an inter-league baseball game between the Detroit Tigers and the San Diego Padres ... more

Photo: Denis Poroy, Getty Images

Image 7 of 10

Oakland Athletics' Josh Reddick, left, heads safely back to first as Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak catches the ball on a pick-off attempt in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) less

Oakland Athletics' Josh Reddick, left, heads safely back to first as Seattle Mariners first baseman Justin Smoak catches the ball on a pick-off attempt in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 13, ... more

Photo: Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

Image 8 of 10

Oakland Athletics second baseman Eric Sogard tosses to first on a grounder from Seattle Mariners' Willie Bloomquist in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Seattle. Bloomquist was out. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson) less

Oakland Athletics second baseman Eric Sogard tosses to first on a grounder from Seattle Mariners' Willie Bloomquist in the third inning of a baseball game Sunday, April 13, 2014, in Seattle. Bloomquist was out. ... more

Photo: Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

Image 9 of 10

Josh Donaldson exults after his homer in the ninth inning.

Josh Donaldson exults after his homer in the ninth inning.

Photo: Elaine Thompson, Associated Press

Image 10 of 10

Yoenis Céspedes makes up for error in 3-0 A's win

1 / 10

Back to Gallery

Seattle --

Yoenis Céspedes made an error on a knuckling liner in the seventh inning Sunday, the drive to left-center by the Mariners' Corey Hart banging off the top of his glove.

The mistake didn't translate into a run, and the game remained scoreless - until Céspedes stepped to the plate the next inning and clobbered a two-run homer to left. The A's would pick up a 3-0 win over Seattle and a series victory.

"We've seen him do some funny things before and then come up big for us," manager Bob Melvin said of Céspedes.

As for Céspedes, asked about the error-followed-by-homer, he said, with Ariel Prieto interpreting, that he wanted "to try to fix the bad. ... I try but it is not always going to happen."

There was some concern when A's starter Scott Kazmir - who worked the first six innings - was seen in the dugout holding his left forearm and talking to a team trainer and Melvin. Kazmir was treated with extra care by the Indians last year after making only one big-league appearance in the previous two seasons.

Melvin said that Kazmir had triceps tightness, the same issue that caused him to skip one start during the spring, but it was not a big deal. Kazmir even lobbied to pitch the seventh.

"Everything is fine," Kazmir said in greeting reporters, then added later that he will make his next start. "It's very, very minor," he said. "It's really nothing."

Kazmir had a sensational outing, allowing two hits and striking out nine, but his velocity dipped after the triceps tightness hit; Kazmir said he was holding back a bit as a precaution. His fastball hit 96 mph during the game, and his changeup was particularly effective.

Melvin said that until Kazmir exited, "that might have been his best start of the season."

Kazmir, signed to a two-year, $22 million deal during the winter, has a 1.40 ERA to start the season. He retired the first 10 batters Sunday, and the Mariners had just one runner make it past first base in his six innings.

Céspedes said Kazmir's outing reminded him of facing Kazmir last year in Cleveland, when Kazmir struck him out three times. "Nasty," he said.

Oakland's starters have allowed no more than three earned runs in each of the first 12 games, the team's longest such streak since 1981 (16).

Fernando Abad got the first out of the seventh, and Dan Otero (2-0) pitched the rest of the inning, getting Justin Smoak to pop up after Céspedes' error on Hart's sinking liner. Sean Doolittle earned his first save.

Jed Lowrie did not start for the first time this season, but he hit in the eighth and walked, then Daric Barton ran for him. "He didn't break a sweat," Melvin joked of Lowrie's day.

That pinch-hit walk off Charlie Furbush turned into a run when Céspedes cracked his second homer of the season. In the ninth, Josh Donaldson increased Oakland's lead with an opposite-field homer, a solo shot, and his third in four games.

Melvin said that Coco Crisp left with some hamstring tightness but was unlikely to play Monday at Anaheim, anyway. The A's would prefer that Crisp not hit right-handed after getting a cortisone shot in his left wrist a week ago.

After taking five of the past six games, two-time defending division champion Oakland is in first place in the American League West and has the best record in the league.

Latest from the SFGATE homepage:

Click below for the top news from around the Bay Area and beyond. Sign up for our newsletters to be the first to learn about breaking news and more. Go to 'Sign In' and 'Manage Profile' at the top of the page.